I am really confused as to how CDS calculate their GPA. Is it Weighted or Unweighted? If weighted, which classes are considered weighted? Thanks
Unfortunately, college reporting of HS GPA in CDS admissions stats is not consistent. Some colleges obviously use weighted HS GPAs (showing HS GPAs over 4.0), but that can be useless if the weighting system is not known.
Lack of consistency in HS GPA reporting causes many people to overemphasize SAT/ACT scores in trying to assess reach/match/safety, even though colleges commonly consider HS record including GPA and/or rank as well as course selection to be more important.
On section C11 it usually states if the data collected is on a 4.0 scale meaning unweighted or not.
See example: C11 Percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first-year (freshman) students who had high school grade-point averages within each of the following ranges (using 4.0 scale). Report information only for those students from whom you collected high school GPA.
For C12: if the average GPA is above a 4.0, then you assume it is weighted. Depending upon the school, some do list how they arrive at their weighted GPA (examples: Cal States and UC’s in California).
I called a university and asked the admissions office if their CDS listing was unweighted or weighted. They gave me a direct, informed answer. GPA carries more weight in most universities than standardized test scores. Good test scores alone will not get you into the super competitive universities. We really need more standardized answers from participating universities.
These same universities are often buried with applications from students swimming in AP courses. This feeds the belief that universities prefer AP applicants. Many AP courses are not really up to their university standards so they become very fussy about accepting AP scores of 3 or even 4. Universities also list applicant requirements in the same data set. To make my point, check out MIT @ http://web.mit.edu/ir/cds/2018/c.html I don’t see any requirement that students must bury themselves in AP courses which are offered on their campus. MIT does not list any version of a GPA, but reports 98% of the reporting students were in the top 10% of their class.
Just to add to the confusion, RPI reports an average, unweighted GPA of 3.78 and they are not test optional on SAT scores. WPI reports an average, unweighted GPA of 3.86, but is test optional on the SAT submissions. In place of standardized test scores they would like to see your research or project activity.
If your serious about the university and can’t find the answer, ask your counselor and/or call the university admissions office.
Many Universities appear to be managing the release of CDS data by one or more of the following techniques:
~ Switching GPA data reporting format from C11 to C12 (e.g., University of Pittsburgh) and or
~ Omitting data, such as GPA, from their publicized report while listing it as "very important" (e.g., Northeastern).
Meanwhile, SAT scores and rejection rates are headlined. In the market place, this focuses the consumer/guidance councilor to emphasize SAT scores and rejection rates. If the goal of the data is to get a handle on the quality of the student body, the unweighted GPA is arguably the best single variable.
Universities at the top of the “rejection ladder” are aware of the problem. Stanford is trying to address this issue. See http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/21688775#Comment_21688775
Another attempt to address this problem is test optional admissions. Largely by default, we have defined the markers of success as SAT scores and rejection rates. See http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/sat-act-tests-test-preparation/2084255-why-test-optional-admissions.html#latest
The CDS directions state the GPA is supposed to be on a 4.0 scale, thus UW. However, some colleges don’t follow directions well.
It is what it is.
My daughter moved schools after her sophomore year. The first high school was the US News #1 STEM public magnet school with a 0-100 grading system. We moved internationally for work, so the second was a German International School with an IB program that has a 0-7 grading system. We never knew what her 4.0 scale GPA was. Colleges admitted her anyway and gave her merit scholarships. The only glitch we had was our State Public U that had an automated system for scholarships based on self-reported data. An email to admissions cleared that up and she was also awarded merit.
My point is, don’t worry about it, the colleges figure it out.